John Sidney McCain III (born August 29, 1936) is an American politician, the son of Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. and Roberta (Wright) McCain. McCain is currently the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. He was a presidential candidate in the 2000 election, but was defeated in the Republican primary by current President George W. Bush. On February 28, 2007, during a guest appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman, McCain announced he is seeking the 2008 GOP Presidential nomination, and that he will more formally announce his candidacy in April.

Born in Coco Solo in the then American-controlled Panama Canal Zone, the son and grandson of United States Navy Admirals, McCain was educated at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia and the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. He then served as a naval aviator (holding the rank of Captain), seeing combat in the Vietnam War, and first became a national celebrity after being held as a prisoner of war for five and a half years, from 1967-1973.

Upon his release and return, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives in Arizona's 1st district in 1982 and then to the United States Senate in 1986. He is currently serving his fourth term.